Stefano

One tough thing about traveling is the people you meet coming in and out of your life so quickly. Will you ever see them again? How long do you have together? What is worth the continued relationship?

Stefano came into my life at a time I was already feeling sad about saying goodbye - within the last 3 months I had said goodbye to my long term travel partner, seen some of my closest friends in Taiwan for a trip of a lifetime but still too short of a visit, and left the Grampians again when I was feeling that pull to settle down. Becs drew me out west (which I will be forever grateful to her for), but our time together was winding down too - a goodbye coming within a week.

Poor Stefano. We knew right away that our connection would only be for a weekend trip to Rottnest as he was headed north for a Workaway commitment in Exmouth.

Fresh to Australia, Stefano jumped into the backpacker life - buying a van to convert into his new home, joining the Facebook groups to make friends, and heading to the pub to watch Rugby World Cup matches. An Italian veterinarian who had spent the last few working years in France, Stefano was eager to make non-French and non-Italian friends (surprisingly tough among the backpacker community!). He headed to Exmouth to take on an au-pair job (quickly learning he’s not interested in babysitting again), fully built his van, then road tripped back south to Perth.

We connected again on NYE, finding each other in the crowded King’s Park for sunset and fireworks. While all together we’ve had limited interactions in person, we continue to message and check-in on each other. The consistent communication with someone who understands the Australian travel life (plus, is still in Australia) is priceless. Whether it’s frustrated voice memos when his farmer boss is being a jerk or inspired messages to stay positive in the time of quarantine, I’m always happy when I see a notification from Stefano. Who knows where we’ll meet again!